Prep first
Before you start
- Work out the cause first; the location and how the stain showed up decide the treatment.
- Don't use chlorine bleach on a brown stain until you've ruled out rust, since bleach sets it.
- Test the paste on a hidden spot first.
Brown stains on concrete usually trace back to rust, iron in the water, or tannins from coffee, tea, fruit or wood. Stains that have dried into the surface can be stubborn, and an old mark may need several rounds before it fades. Whether the slab is sealed decides how far the paste can reach, so check that before you start.
A brown stain on a concrete patio can take a few rounds, so keep the glycerin paste on until it hardens, then scrape it off and repeat between each pass. A grout cleaner is worth trying on stains that sit in the seams between slabs. If the stain outlasts every round, that's the time to call a pro.
Before you start
What concrete, brick & driveways can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Hot water
- Soaking
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Lint-free glycerinThe main base of the paste. (opens Amazon)
- Sodium citrate crystalsAvailable from a drug store; it goes in with the glycerin and water.
- WhitingThickens the mix into a paste you can spread. (opens Amazon)
- Lukewarm waterUsed to combine the glycerin and citrate into the mix.
- Wooden scraperLifts the hardened paste off the concrete.
- Clear waterWets the concrete first and washes the area after scraping.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
5 steps
Step by step
Step 2 of 5
Wet and spread the paste
Wet the concrete with clear water first, as you would before any chemical cleaning. Spread the paste over the stain and let it harden.
Step 3 of 5
Scrape off the hardened paste
Lift the hardened paste off with a wooden scraper. If the stain is deep, the paste can stay on for several days before you scrape.
Careful. Scrape only once the paste is fully hard; soft paste smears rather than lifts.
Step 4 of 5
Repeat if the stain remains
If the brown is still visible after scraping, spread a fresh layer of paste and go through the hardening and scraping again. Repeat as often as needed, since a deep stain may take more than one pass.
Step 5 of 5
Wash and let it dry
Wash the area thoroughly with clear water until no paste residue is left. Let the concrete dry completely before you judge the result.
Tip. A damp spot looks darker than it will once dry, so check it when it's fully dry.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for brown stains on concrete, brick & driveways
Look for a stain-specific cleaner made for concrete if you'd rather not mix the paste yourself.
These are the everyday supplies the steps above use, in the versions most people buy on Amazon.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Each paste round should leave a lighter patch once it's been scraped off and rinsed. Give the area full drying time before you judge it, since damp concrete reads darker than it really is. If two rounds have changed nothing, the old and set-in section covers what to try next.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your concrete, brick & driveways
Brown or spots on concrete
Spots are usually small and separate, so treat each one on its own rather than spreading the paste across the whole slab. Put a small amount on each mark, keep it inside the edges of the spot, and scrape it off once it has hardened.
If the spots are rust, the paste is still the method, so don't swap in bleach to speed things up. Check each one after washing, and repeat only the spots that are still visible.
Brown on a concrete patio
Outdoor concrete takes the same paste, but work one section at a time in shade so the paste isn't drying in the sun before you can spread it. Wet the section you're working on before spreading.
If the brown came from wood, leaves or a planter, check the nearby concrete for more of the same marks. Scrape the hardened paste with the wooden scraper, rinse the whole section, and let it dry before you walk on it.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old brown stains that have had years to soak in are the hard ones, and the paste alone may only lighten them. For these, a poultice is the stronger option: spread talc, whiting, fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth or clay, mixed with the right solvent, at least 1/8 inch thick over the stain.
Cover it with plastic for 24 hours, then let it dry fully before you scrape or brush it off. A poultice that's too thin will dry out before it pulls much of the stain up, so keep it thick.
If brown is still visible, repeat the poultice as needed, since accumulated stains may take several rounds. Proprietary stain-specific cleaners are preferred over homemade mixes, so reach for one of those before mixing your own. Stronger methods carry more risk of damage to the concrete, so stop if the surface starts to look rough or pale.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on brown stains on concrete, brick & driveways?
Plenty of home remedies go on brown stains, but the method for concrete is one paste. Each of these remedies gets its own reason for being skipped, since the concrete approach relies on one paste.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't add acid to the paste
Whiting foams when it's mixed with an acid and destroys the acid's power, so the paste won't do its job. Keep the mix to glycerin, sodium citrate, water and whiting only.
Don't scrape the paste before it sets
Scraping too early tends to leave a smear behind instead of lifting the mark. Let the paste harden fully, then lift it off with a wooden scraper and repeat only if the stain is still there.
Don't reach for bleach on a brown mark
Chlorine bleach sets or intensifies rust and iron, so it can make a brown mark darker. Save it for moss and algae, and never mix it with ammonia.
Don't skip the clear-water wash
Leftover paste residue can leave the slab looking patchy. Wash the area thoroughly with clear water and let it dry completely before you judge the result.
When to call a professional
Get a pro involved if a sealer or water repellent on the slab keeps the paste from reaching the stain, or if the surface is an older masonry piece that needs careful handling. If you can't identify the mark, a testing laboratory can sample it, and you should tell them it's a brown mark, what paste or product has been applied, and whether the slab is sealed.
Questions
What causes brown stains on concrete?
Most often they come from rust, iron in the water, or tannins from coffee, tea, fruit or wood. Water that bleeds through can also leave brown marks. Identify the likely source first, since the cause decides how you treat it.
Why does a brown stain come back after cleaning?
Usually the source is still there. Sugary or fruit spills that dried out of sight can oxidize and turn brown later, so check the area for residue around the spot.
Is a brown stain on concrete permanent?
Most brown stains on concrete can be lifted, but some are permanent. Severe scorch and rust that has been set by bleach can't be fully removed.
Can I use the paste on a patio?
Yes, the same paste works on a patio. Work one section at a time in shade, and wet each section before you spread the paste.
How long should I leave the paste on?
Usually only until it hardens, and then you scrape it off. For a deep stain it can stay on for several days, but only if it's needed.
Can I pressure wash a brown stain off my driveway?
Yes, but only at low pressure. Stay below 800 psi, use a broad fan nozzle and keep it well back from the surface, since higher pressure wears away the surface and can damage it.
Do I need to wet the slab before I put the paste on?
Yes, wetting it first is the safer routine. Dry masonry soaks up the cleaner before it can work, so wetting it first keeps the paste where it belongs. Keep the area damp until the final rinse so nothing dries onto the slab.
Can I use bleach on the concrete?
Only for organic growth such as moss or algae, and never on a brown mark until you know it isn't rust or iron, since bleach sets those. Never combine it with ammonia, because the mix gives off a toxic, lethal gas. Keep it off natural stone.
Brown Stains on other materials
Other stains on concrete, brick & driveways
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.